When Aldi opened its first Huntsville store on University Drive in October 2011, customers were lined up waiting to get inside. (Huntsville Times file photo)

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- A new Aldi grocery store could be coming to south Huntsville.

According to paperwork on file at City Hall, Aldi wants to build a store at the southeast corner of the Memorial Parkway-Hobbs Road intersection. The 1.86-acre property was most recently home to a BP gas station.

City planners are expected to consider giving preliminary approval to the proposed commercial lot during an in-house staff meeting this afternoon, with final approval possible by mid-November. Aldi could then apply to the city for a building permit.

The German-based discount supermarket chain has made a strong push into the Huntsville area, opening new stores last fall at 4175 University Drive and 7676 U.S. 72 West in Madison. Aldi also has locations in Decatur, Florence and Gadsden.

"We think there are opportunities on the south side" of Huntsville, Troy Marshall, an Aldi division vice president, told The Times last November.

At Memorial Parkway and Hobbs Road, Aldi would be near Redstone Arsenal's Gate 3 and across from a Walmart Supercenter.

With more than 8,000 locations worldwide, Aldi has carved out a growing niche in the U.S. by selling mostly its own store brand products. The company's strategy for keeping prices low includes charging for shopping carts and bags. However, customers get their quarter back after returning the cart and can bring their own bags.

Updated at 3:16 p.m. to add that location is near Redstone Arsenal's Gate 3.